Gallup poll finds 71% oppose local AI data centers
A Gallup survey conducted March 2-18 2026 found that 71% of Americans oppose construction of AI data centers in their local area including 48% who strongly oppose the projects. Only 27% support them. Opposition spans party lines at 75% among Democrats 74% among independents and 63% among Republicans and exceeds resistance to nuclear power plants. Forty-six percent voiced great concern about environmental impact with another 24% reporting a fair amount.
#517Andrew Curran@ANDREWCURRAN_New polling today from Gallup. 71% of Americans oppose local construction of datacenters. Anti-datacenter sentiment is now so strong that far more people would rather have a nuclear power plant built next to them than a datacenter.
Opposition to datacenters now tops Gallup's 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘴 for opposition to nuclear plants. You can see why the orbital option is becoming more attractive to the major players in the US. Big business for SpaceX if they can pull it off. https://news.gallup.com/poll/709772/americans-oppose-data-centers-area.aspx
Andrew Curran@AndrewCurran_Majorities of both political parties oppose local datacenters, but Democrats are much more likely than Republicans to be strongly opposed (56% vs 39%). If this trend continues it could be a major issue for the general election in 2028.
Majorities of both political parties oppose local datacenters, but Democrats are much more likely than Republicans to be strongly opposed (56% vs 39%). If this trend continues it could be a major issue for the general election in 2028.
Andrew Curran@AndrewCurran_New polling today from Gallup. 71% of Americans oppose local construction of datacenters. Anti-datacenter sentiment is now so strong that far more people would rather have a nuclear power plant built next to them than a datacenter.
#1735Andy Masley@ANDYMASLEYI think a lot of people tend to overrate dislike of AI as the cause of anti data center sentiment. This NYT piece is a funny mirror image of an anti data center article, but about warehouses. I think people mostly don't like big buildings primarily used for consumers far away